Chiefs want in on merger talks

By JOHN C. ENSSLIN

Staff Writer |

The Record

The president of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association has asked a freeholder to reconsider the makeup of the "blue ribbon" panel picked to help work out details of a disputed merger of the County Police into the Sheriff's Office.

Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli made the request in an April 11 letter to Tracy Zur, who heads the Bergen Freeholder Board's shared services committee.

Zur's committee selected eight active and retired law enforcement officials two weeks ago to advise the freeholders on how best to move the 88-member county force, intact, as a division within the Sheriff's Office. Among those asked to participate were Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli, County Police Chief Brian Higgins and Sheriff Michael Saudino.

However, Batelli wrote, the panel does not include anyone representing the chiefs association, which includes all 68 of the county's municipal police departments.

"It is my belief that the local police agencies in Bergen County which are represented by the Police Chiefs Association are one of the largest, if not the largest stakeholder to be impacted by the proposed merger between these two agencies," Batelli wrote.

"The constructive comments, suggestions and input our association can bring to the table on this issue would be invaluable to the Board of Freeholders," he added.

Zur said the association's advice on the issue is welcome regardless of who is on the panel.

"We look forward to having their participation in the process," she said.

The panel was picked by the freeholders as County Executive Kathleen Donovan was taking them to court, contending that the board exceeded its authority when it approved the merger in October.

Donovan contends the freeholders lack the power to reorganize county government without her involvement.

She also contends two freeholders should not have voted on the merger because they have adult children working for the sheriff's department. A hearing on that issue is scheduled for April 25 before Superior Court Judge Menelaos Toskos.

Batelli contends a panel to help guide the merger is premature until the court rules on its legality.

However, Zur cited one of Toskos' earlier rulings in the case, in which he refused to bar the freeholders from moving forward on the issue. Zur contended that the work needs to be done now before the courts decide.

Batelli also questioned why Wrixon was "apparently asked" to serve on the committee by John McCann, the attorney for Saudino.

McCann disputed Batelli's statement, saying he simply had asked Wrixon - at the freeholders' request - if Wrixon was willing to serve on the panel. McCann said he didn't recruit Wrixon.

In his letter, Batelli said he first learned of the panel when a reporter called him for comment.

Batelli has spoken out against the proposed merger and questioned the claim by Democratic freeholders that the move would save taxpayers $90 million to $200 million over the next 25 years.

Despite that opposition, Batelli assured Zur that members of his association would approach the issue "with open minds."

Chiefs want in on merger talks

The president of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association has asked a freeholder to reconsider the makeup of the "blue ribbon" panel picked to help work out details of a disputed merger of the County Police into the Sheriff's Office.

Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli made the request in an April 11 letter to Tracy Zur, who heads the Bergen Freeholder Board's shared services committee.

Zur's committee selected eight active and retired law enforcement officials two weeks ago to advise the freeholders on how best to move the 88-member county force, intact, as a division within the Sheriff's Office. Among those asked to participate were Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli, County Police Chief Brian Higgins and Sheriff Michael Saudino.

However, Batelli wrote, the panel does not include anyone representing the chiefs association, which includes all 68 of the county's municipal police departments.

"It is my belief that the local police agencies in Bergen County which are represented by the Police Chiefs Association are one of the largest, if not the largest stakeholder to be impacted by the proposed merger between these two agencies," Batelli wrote.

"The constructive comments, suggestions and input our association can bring to the table on this issue would be invaluable to the Board of Freeholders," he added.

Zur said the association's advice on the issue is welcome regardless of who is on the panel.

"We look forward to having their participation in the process," she said.

The panel was picked by the freeholders as County Executive Kathleen Donovan was taking them to court, contending that the board exceeded its authority when it approved the merger in October.

Donovan contends the freeholders lack the power to reorganize county government without her involvement.

She also contends two freeholders should not have voted on the merger because they have adult children working for the sheriff's department. A hearing on that issue is scheduled for April 25 before Superior Court Judge Menelaos Toskos.

Batelli contends a panel to help guide the merger is premature until the court rules on its legality.

However, Zur cited one of Toskos' earlier rulings in the case, in which he refused to bar the freeholders from moving forward on the issue. Zur contended that the work needs to be done now before the courts decide.

Batelli also questioned why Wrixon was "apparently asked" to serve on the committee by John McCann, the attorney for Saudino.

McCann disputed Batelli's statement, saying he simply had asked Wrixon - at the freeholders' request - if Wrixon was willing to serve on the panel. McCann said he didn't recruit Wrixon.

In his letter, Batelli said he first learned of the panel when a reporter called him for comment.

Batelli has spoken out against the proposed merger and questioned the claim by Democratic freeholders that the move would save taxpayers $90 million to $200 million over the next 25 years.

Despite that opposition, Batelli assured Zur that members of his association would approach the issue "with open minds."